Not Quite Dead Yet follows 27-year-old Jet, a self-proclaimed procrastinator whose life revolves around the words “I’ll do it later.” But when she ends up dead—with just one week to solve her own murder—“later” is no longer an option.

This book blends sharp humor, gripping suspense, and a dash of existential crisis in a way that’s both clever and captivating. The writing is packed with amazing detail; every word feels intentional and vivid, painting a story that leaps off the page. Fans of the author’s YA work will feel right at home—just expect a several more F-bombs this time around.

The twist? Totally unexpected, and it hits with the perfect mix of shock and satisfaction. If anything, the only wish is that the pacing toward the end slowed down just a little—there’s so much packed in those final pages, it leaves you racing to catch your breath.

Smart, twisty, and emotionally grounded, Not Quite Dead Yet is a fresh take on second chances (even post-mortem ones). If you love character-driven mysteries with heart and humor, this one’s not to be missed.

This book was an easy 5 star read for me!

Holly Jackson's YA thriller books are so well written that I was really excited to see this new book being an adult thriller. While still very well written, it felt like another YA book to me-so it was not what I was expecting.
With that being said, I will say the story is up to par with her other YA thriller books. Super twisty, fast paced and very unpredictable! I also thought the flawed characters were well written.
I think if you've enjoyed the author's prior books, this will be another hit!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It physically pains me to give this such a poor ranking, given that Holly Jackson is one of my favorite authors, but there were several issues here for me.

1) Plot was overly ambitious from the start

2) This was such a glacially slow moving storyline. Even with the implicit timeline set by extenuating circumstances there was never a feeling of dread or urgency

3) The ending was satisfying but by then I was no longer as invested in the case

I’ll absolutely keep reading Holly Jackson’s work, and am hopeful her next release will be YA rather than adult.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Being in the hospital, knowing you’re going to die in a few days, and still trying to figure out who’s trying to kill you—this story hit me hard. The mix of fear, pain, and determination felt raw and honest. It’s not often a thriller makes you feel the weight of every moment like this one did.

The way the character kept pushing, even when everything was against them, made me think about how desperate people get when time runs out. It wasn’t just about the mystery, but about holding on when you feel like letting go. That stuck with me long after I finished.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book Not Quite Dead Yet. The heroine of the story is a woman in her late 20s named Jet. We meet Jet on Halloween night the night she will be killed. It won’t happen immediately, but she will be dead within one week. Absolutely determined that her death not remain a mystery, Jet begins a search for the truth. She only has seven days, but she will not die without identifying her killer.

The book reminded me of the movie DOA. I loved the Jet character, and very much loved her best friend and co-investigator, Billy. All of the characters were well developed, and the novel moved in a very fast pace. I think most readers will figure out “who did it” before the truth is finally unveiled in the final pages of the novel, but Not Quite Dead Yet is a solid mystery from beginning to end. The author, Holly Jackson, is new to me, but I look forward to reading more from her.

I had high hopes—Jet Mason finds out she’s one foot in the grave after a brutal Halloween attack, then spends just seven days trying to solve her own murder? I am definitely here for that. Jet wakes up in the hospital after a near-fatal attack and realizes she has exactly one week to figure out who tried to kill her before her body gives out for good. Seven days, one murder mystery, no pressure!

But Jet is 27 and somehow still gives big “traumatized high school senior with a podcast” energy. I say that with love... but also with confusion. Because this reads like YA wearing adult clothes it borrowed from its older cousin.

The stakes are high, but the emotional weight isn’t. Jet’s voice is quippy and fast-paced, but often so emotionally detached that I felt like I was being held at arm’s length the whole time. I wanted to feel the urgency and grief and fear and instead, I felt... mildly intrigued?

There were definitely moments that landed: Billy? Protect at all costs. The ending? Sharp and painful in a way I didn’t expect. But overall, it felt like a YA thriller awkwardly aging up for a new audience—and not quite sticking the landing.

Like other Holly Jackson books, this was an intense read. I finished it in less than 24 hours because I had to figure out the ending. There were a few times I thought I was on the right track to figure out who did it but Holly kept the twists coming.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery / thriller or if you have every read and enjoyed another Holly Jackson book. Definitely read it when you have a few hours because it is impossible to put down.

I was provided an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

Holly Jackson.... the feelings you made me feel reading this book. You had me needing to control my tears on a domestic flight.

This story follows a 27-year-old girl named Jet who is "murdered." The doctors tell her she has about a week left before she dies with little hope of surviving any possible intervention. Jet's final bucket list item is to solve her own murder.

I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. Jet was running out of time in this story and I felt the pacing matched that really well. I typically love trying to solve a book's plot twist, and while there are a few, I only got one of them half right. I still feel the pit in my stomach after finishing this book and I'll be thinking about it for some time. Oh, and thank you for not killing the dog.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC! I highly recommend it and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Holly Jackson.

Please write more adult novels! I absolutely devoured Not Quite Dead Yet! The story was well written and I adored Jet and Billy. Also, that song about Vermont and sticks has been on replay for me for months so I was happy to see it mentioned.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Thoughts:
This was so good, even the concept of this book is just incredible—a woman solves her own murder, while awaiting her own death... I cannot stress enough how much Holly Jackson's mind continues to amaze me. Since reading her AGGGTM series, I have grown to love Holly Jackson and her writing. How is she able to come up with these plot twists and different clues and pieces of evidence??? She's so talented it's so unfair.

This book takes course over Halloween and the 7 days that follow. The main character, Jet, is attacked on Halloween night and wakes up in the hospital to the news that she will die in 7 days when an aneurysm finally ruptures in her head. With this devastating news, Jet decides that she is going to do the unthinkable: solve her own murder.

Personally, I enjoyed Jet as a main character. Her character was very dynamic, as she was brilliant and flawed in the best way. I really resonated with Jet's infamous line, "I'll do it later." I found it so clever of the author to make this her motto when she is faced with a situation where she can't do anything later, because later she will be dead.

I also really liked Billy, Jet's best-friend and the person who helps her find her murderer. They had such a deep connection and alliance throughout the book. My heart hurts for Billy—if you read the book,I hope you will feel the same. He is just the sweetest guy and he means so well. He always has Jet's best interest in mind and stands behind her every moment he gets. Loved him.

I'm so glad to say that I could not figure out Jet's murderer on my own! Turns out it was one of the only characters I never really suspected! I was so shocked!!!!

I feel like the book ended abruptly—just a tad—with bunch of loose ends being tied up right at the end. I wouldn't say this book is necessarily fast-paced, but it definitely unpacks a lot of clues and a lot of information throughout. Holly Jackson had me flipping through this book like no other needing to find out what happens next. It's hard not to compare it to AGGTM, but the pacing is very similar.
Another thing to note, being that this is not a YA mystery, which is what Holly Jackson does best, the adult characters worked so well for her in this book. I'm excited to read more books by her with adult characters!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author Holly Jackson for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Not Quite Dead Yet is set to release on July 22, 2025!!

I have loved all of Holly Jackson’s books and this is her first Adult thriller! It did not disappoint!
Oh my goodness! I couldn’t put this book down,read it in less than a day and I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened !
The premise was great, the family drama was tense and the story was a bit heartbreaking!
It’s hard to talk about the plot without giving it away. The Title is on point because our main character isn’t dead yet and only has so much time to find out who killed her!
It is twisty and there were some surprises I didn’t see coming!
Thanks to Net Galley for an early copy,I’m so happy I got to read this one!
If you love thrillers then you need to read this one!
5 star read for me!

Thriller readers of all types will find something to love in Not Quite Dead Yet, Holly Jackson's newest novel. Jet is 27, living at home with her parents, and in no hurry to decide what to do with her life. She's given up on everything she's ever started, including law school and her long term relationship with JJ. After coming home to an empty house after the town's Halloween festival, Jet is savagely attacked leaving her with only a week to live. All her "laters" are gone and she has to decide whether her last 7 days will matter or will she fail once again? Jet is determined to solve her own murder, with the help of her best friend Billy.

Are you new to thrillers? The first few chapters do an excellent job establishing characters, setting the scene, and giving you someone to love and plenty of someones to hate. The plot develops quickly but is easy to follow while still delivering some punchy reveals that leave you wondering how this will all end.

Do you love to try to solve the mystery? Well, this book does a great job dropping enough clues throughout, giving you a chance to try to put things together and give you a sense of accomplishment while still delivering some surprises.

Are you a thriller lover, with dozens of books under your belt? This story is compelling and delivers high stakes, plenty of reveals, and an ending that just might take you by surprise.

When Jet is assaulted anonymously in her home on Halloween, she finds out that her injuries included an aneurysm on her brain that will rupture within 7 days of her waking up in the hospital, at which point the assault will be considered murder. With 7 days to live, Jet makes it her last mission to solve her own murder by finding out who attacked her on the night of October 31st and why. Without the help of the police, Jet and her childhood friend Billy dig through the evidence to narrow their suspects down until all they are left with are friends or acquaintances of Jet's family. Will she be able to solve her own murder before her aneurysm bursts?
Holly Jackson, the woman that you are.... I have absolutely LOVED and DEVOURED all of Holly's YA novels and would literally read a restaurant menu if she wrote it. One of the things that I love most about her writing is that she starts her stories off quickly, but artfully maintains suspense and excitement to keep you hooked through the end of the book with her clever plots and twists. This one was no exception. This being her debut adult novel made me so excited for what intriguing stories she has in store for us in the future!!
Sincere thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I was so excited to get this ARC and am SO honored to have gotten to read it early!

This was incredible, and such a fun concept!!! I had an amazing time reading this, and I will definitely be sharing my full review on my bookstagram later :)

I wish I would have started this book sooner, it was so good! I am super glad I got a early copy of Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson.

This story was crazy and I was so into the story that I didn't wanna stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen and when a story hits you like that, you know its a good book! The ending too was super intense and you are just like NO PLEASE DONT DIE. So sad yet so good.

This story is one where the whole story plot is just unique. You almost die by a horrible situation and then you realize well you didnt die this time but you still are about to and you only have so long to try to solve your own murder before its too late. I would hate to have the life that Jet had to live in her final days but I was proud of what she did and didnt give up.

Great book, I cant wait for others to read this one!

This is the first book I’ve read by holly Jackson and I thoroughly enjoyed it - a real page turner and very suspenseful until the very end and what an ending!!! Thanks for the ARC!

I was familiar with Holly Jackson prior to reading this book, as a young adult mystery author;however, as her first time writing an adult mystery she succeeded my expectations!

Jet stumbles into her home on Halloween and ends up injured after being hit over the head by an unknown intruder, discovered by her friend Billy she is rushed to the hospital. She finds out she has about a week to live before an aneurysm will likely kill her stemming from the trauma. Jet goes on a mission with Billy to find her murderer and while doing so discovers long lost family memories and secrets that change her outlook on certain family members. Will Jet and Billy find her "killer" before he certain death?

This book kept my attention the entire time and I could hardly put it down. The author does an amazing job of tying up loose ends in the ending and weaving all the details of the story together beautifully! She really gave Jet the investigation she wanted with the justice she deserved! I kept hoping for a different outcome in the end but it didn't happen and it was bittersweet. I would highly recommend this book! 4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Holly Jackson, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to review this ARC!

I was starting to give up hope that I would like any book that Holly Jackson writes other than the AGGGTM series, but they did it! I was kept guessing and engrossed in the mystery. The MC reads very young and immature for a 27-year-old, which I had to keep reminding myself of her age, but it’s a kind of forgettable fact.

Title: Not Quite Dead Yet
Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Bantam
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: July 22, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 400

On Halloween night, nearly twenty-seven years old Jet Mason, daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, is brutally attacked by an intruder, leaving her with a massive head injury. And miraculously she survives three head blows, suffering a subdural hematoma and goes into cardiac arrest. Her neurosurgeon predicts the formation of a brain aneurysm within 7 days- which, essentially, means that Jet will be dead in 7 days. .
Yes Jet Mason has seven days – one week to solve her own attempted murder,
Story start Friday, October 31 and continues to Saturday, November 15.
Oh my this story was more intense than I expected/ cannot say it was an enjoyable read.

I always like to read the author’s note/or Acknowledgements. In this case Ms. Jackson Starts by telling readers to
Breathe!
She admits the story is sad as well as intense and may have inflicted trauma in readers.
She also hopes readers will remember Jet’s strength.

I believe readers need to be in a certain frame of mind to read this. Yes it is intense as well as sad.
I just read an awesome story and was so not ready for this - have to admit the timing wasn’t good for met which doesn’t mean it isn’t good, I am sure many other readers will be fine with it.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Bantam for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 22, 2025.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson is an exciting and captivating thriller that really grabs you. This is her first adult thriller, and I was eager to read it. The story is full of dark twists, morally gray characters, plenty of sarcasm, and a relentless plot that keeps you hooked. Jackson's sharp storytelling skills shine through as she masterfully combines drama with chilling suspense—this time, with even higher stakes.

After a near-death experience, Jet finds herself caught up in a mystery: Who murdered her? As she digs deeper, she blurs the lines between victim and villain. Jackson masterfully manipulates the reader’s expectations, with secrets unfolding in each chapter and tension mounting toward a shocking conclusion that's both unexpected and inevitable.

What sets this novel apart is Jackson’s talent for crafting complex characters who are flawed, authentic, and sometimes deeply unsettling. The narrative voice is crisp and clever, and each chapter concludes with a hook that compels you to keep reading. Unlike her previous novels, Not Quite Dead Yet ventures into darker territory, focusing less on solving the crime and more on navigating the aftermath.

For fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this one's a must-read. If you're new to Jackson's work, prepare to enter a world where nothing is what it seems and no one is safe. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy suspense with a heart-wrenching twist.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books for my eARC!
Posted initially on BookshelfbyTori on Instagram!